87th Oscar Winner Predictions

Every year a few select films go above and beyond in artwork, surpassing the cheap entertainment value of certain mainstream films. These excellent works intellectually and visually stimulate audiences to think on a deeper level.

The 87th Oscars have gathered this year’s greatest cinematic achievements to select a winner in categories that emphasize the film or actors/actresses uniqueness and strength. The nominees listed on Oscar.go.com/nominees this year are a particularly strong roster, ranging in different categories and genres.

For Best Picture several of the nominees include: “American Sniper,” “Birdman or (The Unexpected Value of Ignorance),” “Boyhood” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

“Boyhood” directed by Richard Linklater stands as one of the most ambitious films of the year for Best Picture. A film shot in span of twelve years, “Boyhood” is a project that time and emotion was poured into for more than a decade. The film fantastically tells the story of a family that the audience witnesses growing.

For Actor in a leading role, the nominees are: Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher,” Bradley Cooper in “American Sniper,” Benedict Cumberbatch “The Imitation Game,” Michael Keaton in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Value of Ignorance),” and Eddie Redmayne for his role in “The Theory of Everything.”

Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher” completely morphed himself for his lead role as the multi-millionaire and eccentric John Du Pont. His acclaimed performance sets him in different territory from his usual comedy work, although this did not stop him from shining in the drama film. Carell was able to put on a blank face and give audiences an entirely different human being.

In Actresses in a leading role, the nominees are: Marion Cotillard for her role in “Two Days, One Night,” Felicity Jones “The Theory of Everything,” Julianne Moore “Still Alice,” Rosamund Pike in “Gone Girl,” and Reese Witherspoon for her performance in “Wild.”

Felicity Jones gives an outstanding performance as Stephen Hawking’s wife Jane. She performs in a film that emotionally grips the audience with her compassion and abilities as an actress.

The nominations for actors and actresses in supporting roles contains an A list lineup.

Mark Ruffalo secures “Foxcatcher” another Oscar nomination for Actor in a supporting role. His performance is up to par with his acting peers Tatum and Carell, delivering a dramatic and loving role that carries the film to new emotional heights.

The “Foxcatcher” actor still has tough competition against stars like Robert Duvall in “The Judge” and Ethan Hawke in “Boyhood.”

One of the most promising supportive actresses Emma Stone, is a strong competitor in the powerhouse film “Birdman or (The Unexpected Value of Ignorance).” The young actress in nominated alongside film veterans: Laura Denn in “Wild” and the incredibly talented and prominent Meryl Streep “Into the Woods.”

For Animated Feature Film, Disney’s “Big Hero 6” and DreamWorks’ “How to Train Your Dragon 2” soared in the box offices. The two films are excellent examples in combining action and comedy into an animated piece, while retaining strong storytelling.

The hidden gem in Animated Feature Film though may be “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” a beautifully animated hand drawn film directed by Isao Takahata. The film exhibits an experience full of color, wonder and awe towards such technical and craft like work in art. “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” in an age of computer animated films is a flowing canvas of skill.

Other categories to take into consideration for The Oscars are: Costume Design, Directing, Foreign Language Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Music – Original Song.